Words and Verse
Catullus VIII
O poor Catullus, stupid long enough!
Open your eyes and see: What's gone is gone.
Once how the sunlight sparkled! Glorious weather
When you would stroll out after her: A girl
Loved as no other ever was or will be.
The things we did, the fun we had together,
Some things I wanted, things she eased me into.
Then how the sunlight sparkled- glorious weather.
Now she wants out: Get over it! Endure it!
Don't dawdle after her; don't you sit moping,
Make up your mind to be a man. Endure!
Just say: Goodbye girl. Show her what you're made of.
Just tell her: I don't need you; won't come crawling.
But you'll be sorry when there's none to love you.
Who's there to love and live for? What's to live for?
Who'll hover round you? Praise your body's beauty?
What man's the new one? Whose will you be called?
Whose lips on yours? Teeth- teasing tongue...O stop it!
Stupid Catullus, be a man! Endure!
***
Miser Catulle, desinas ineptire,
et quod vides perisse perditum ducas.
Fulsere quondam candidi tibi soles,
cúm ventitabas quo puella ducebat
amata nobis quantum amabitur nulla.
Ibi illa multa cúm iocosa fiebant,
quae tu volebas nec puella nolebat,
fulsere vere candidi tibi soles.
Nunc iam illa non vult: tu quoque impotens noli,
nec quae fugit sectare, nec miser vive,
sed obstinata mente perfer, obdura.
Vale puella, iam Catullus obdurat,
nec te requiret nec rogabit invitam.
At tu dolebis, cúm rogaberis nulla.
Scelesta, uae te, quae tibi manet uita?
Quis nunc te adibit? cui videberis bella?
Quem nunc amabis? Cuius esse diceris?
Quem basiabis? Cui labella mordebis?
At tu, Catulle, destinatus obdura.
Open your eyes and see: What's gone is gone.
Once how the sunlight sparkled! Glorious weather
When you would stroll out after her: A girl
Loved as no other ever was or will be.
The things we did, the fun we had together,
Some things I wanted, things she eased me into.
Then how the sunlight sparkled- glorious weather.
Now she wants out: Get over it! Endure it!
Don't dawdle after her; don't you sit moping,
Make up your mind to be a man. Endure!
Just say: Goodbye girl. Show her what you're made of.
Just tell her: I don't need you; won't come crawling.
But you'll be sorry when there's none to love you.
Who's there to love and live for? What's to live for?
Who'll hover round you? Praise your body's beauty?
What man's the new one? Whose will you be called?
Whose lips on yours? Teeth- teasing tongue...O stop it!
Stupid Catullus, be a man! Endure!
***
Miser Catulle, desinas ineptire,
et quod vides perisse perditum ducas.
Fulsere quondam candidi tibi soles,
cúm ventitabas quo puella ducebat
amata nobis quantum amabitur nulla.
Ibi illa multa cúm iocosa fiebant,
quae tu volebas nec puella nolebat,
fulsere vere candidi tibi soles.
Nunc iam illa non vult: tu quoque impotens noli,
nec quae fugit sectare, nec miser vive,
sed obstinata mente perfer, obdura.
Vale puella, iam Catullus obdurat,
nec te requiret nec rogabit invitam.
At tu dolebis, cúm rogaberis nulla.
Scelesta, uae te, quae tibi manet uita?
Quis nunc te adibit? cui videberis bella?
Quem nunc amabis? Cuius esse diceris?
Quem basiabis? Cui labella mordebis?
At tu, Catulle, destinatus obdura.
Comment On This Poem --- Vote for this poem
Catullus VIII
Catullus VIII
